(SportsNetwork.com) - Having won back-to-back games for just the second time
this season, the Calgary Flames will try to extend their winning run on Friday
night as they play host to the Colorado Avalanche.

Following a 2-1 victory over Los Angeles on Nov. 30, the Flames picked up
consecutive wins for the first time since Oct. 9-11 as they bested the Phoenix
Coyotes 4-1 on Wednesday night. Defenseman Mark Giordano had a goal and an
assist in his return to the lineup, while T.J. Brodie also scored and helped
set up another.

Mikael Backlund and Lee Stempniak added goals for the Flames, who are trying
to win three in a row for the first time this season. That should be easier to
accomplish with Giordano back after he missed the last 18 games with a broken
ankle.

The 30-year-old captain logged 20 minutes and 28 seconds of ice time in his
first game since Oct. 21, providing a much-needed spark to the Calgary lineup.

"The way that this guy works in the gym, the way that he prepares ... he's the
ultimate pro and that's why he's our captain," Calgary head coach Bob Hartley
said of Giordano.

Hartley got 29 saves from Karri Ramo, who had been in net for both games of
this win streak and will make his third start in a row tonight.

Ramo is now 4-4-1 with a 3.00 goals against average this season and has lost
both of his previous career starts versus the Avalanche. That includes a 4-2
setback in Colorado on Nov. 8, when he gave up three goals on 26 shots faced.

That defeat snapped the Flames' two-game win streak over the Avs and Colorado
has won five of the last seven meetings overall.

Colorado has lost five of its past seven in Calgary and will give Jean-
Sebastien Giguere the start tonight. He is 18-13-1 with a pair of ties and a
2.34 GAA lifetime versus the Flames, making 30 saves in the home victory in
November.

Giguere is 6-0-0 with a 1.62 GAA and two shutouts in seven starts overall this
season.

His scheduled start tonight was part of the reason Avalanche head coach
Patrick Roy kept Semyon Varlamov in net for the duration of last night's 8-2
loss to the Edmonton Oilers. Varlamov made just 20 saves and three of the
goals he allowed came with less than five minutes to play.

Roy said he felt the game was closer than the score indicated and didn't put
any of the blame on his goaltender.

"I could have pulled him after the fourth goal, but I thought that would have
been unfair," said Roy. "They scored two breakaways, a 2-on-1 situation, a
power play, perfect shot. To bring (Giguere) in with three minutes left when
it's 5-2 I think would have been unfair to him too. He's scheduled to play
(Saturday). Going in cold, hurt his groin, we're not in a better position."

Nick Holden and PA Parenteau did score second-period goals to make it a 3-2
game before the Oilers pulled away.

"We knew before the game that it's a team that would be dangerous if we
exchanged chances with them. We just played into their game tonight and we
need to learn from it," Roy admitted.

Colorado, which had won two straight and five of six coming in, went 0-for-6
on the power play and are 0-for-15 in the past five games.

The Avs lost the opener of their three-game swing through Western Canada and
visit Vancouver on Sunday.

12/06 10:58:03 ET

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